Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Outcry at art installation near spot of sea tragedy
ACOUNCIL has apologised for its “crass mistake” of installing a “disrespectful” piece of art at a spot close to where two young people drowned in the sea.
Joe Abbess, aged 17 and from Southampton, and Sunnah Khan, aged 12 and of High Wycombe, drowned in the sea near Bournemouth pier on May 31.
A 15-metre glowing archway was installed on the beach on Thursday evening as part of the town’s Arts by the Sea Festival.
The move to dismantle the 15 metre-high mirrored archway follows a complaint by Vanessa Abbess, Joe’s mother, who described it as “disrespectful”.
She said in a statement: “As a family, we were shocked and astounded to see news reports of the disrespectful ‘Arts by the Sea’ installation at the Bournemouth beachy.
“The ‘Portal of Hope’ was badly located and thoughtless, as it frames the area of sea where our son Joe and Sunnah Khan got into difficulties.
“In addition, it is sited on the area of beach where emergency services cared for all casualties on May 31 and the tragic circumstances unfolded. This is not a suitable area to celebrate the sea or to place a tourist attraction.
“We emailed BCP [Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole] Council, as owners of the beach, to express our distress and upset.
“We fully appreciate that this project may have been planned for many months, but due to the tragic circumstances and ongoing inquest, we feel this (is) entirely unsuitable and plans could have been easily adjusted in the last 17 weeks.
“Last night, Graham Farrant [council chief executive] confirmed the installation would be immediately shut down/relocated.
“We are grateful that BCP Council have acted so quickly, but feel with a little consideration and respect to Joe, Sunnah and both families, this could have been avoided.”
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council has since apologised for the error to the grieving families and was working to remove the artwork.
Mr Farrant said: “We are deeply sorry for such a crass mistake which clearly should never have happened.
“We have extended an unreserved apology to the families for causing further upset at what is undoubtedly already a distressing time.
“Work is under way to remove the installation and we will review our internal processes to understand how this happened and what changes need to be made to avoid this from happening again.”
The structure was designed exclusively for the Arts by the Sea Festival, which runs over this weekend.
Organisers said the giant archway is lined with lights which “move and shift to create a mesmerising and ethereal display of glowing light and patterns, which appear different
throughout the day, particularly at sunrise and sunset.”
The structure had been due to be in place until October 4.
The latest pre-inquest review into Joe’s and Sunnah’s deaths heard how emergency services responded to multiple calls from the public of swimmers “come into difficulty in the water following the suggestion they had been caught in a riptide”.
The provisional causes of both of their deaths are currently listed as of drowning.
Their inquests have been adjourned for a further pre-inquest hearing and a full inquest conclusion will be held early next year.